ACTUALITE |
19.01.2004
Zimbabwe Warriors Ready for the Battle
It has taken the Zimbabweans 23 years to qualify for their first Cup of Nations.
After 23 years of struggle, the Zimbabwean national team, fondly referred to as the Warriors, grabbed a ticket for the final phase of the African Cup of Nations. The road to Tunisia was rough. The Warriors however started off well with a home win over Mali. They maintained the forward drive in their next outing with another victory in Eritrea. Things however went sour in June when the team suffered a defeat to the Seychelles. They made a valiant bid to get their leadership place with a goalless draw in Mali but still found themselves behind the Eagles on goal difference. Zimbabwe nonetheless qualified for CAN 2004 as the best-placed runner-up from the four-teams groups.
Team Coach, Sunday Marimo, who took over the management in May 2002, has confidence in his boys and says that Zimbabwe is not just going to see off others at CAN 2004. Marimo has lined up five Europe-based players and seven others in the South African league. The rest are home-based. He sees reaching the quarter-finals as the benchmark of success. Marimo will be counting on the talents of his game makers. The team Captain, Peter Ndlovu, for example, is an inspiration to his mates. The 30-year old, who is presently the longest-serving African professional in English football (he was first signed by Coventry City in 1991 and now plays for Sheffield United), constantly encourages the younger players and motivates the team to keep their heads above water when things no longer go their way. Vice-captain, Kaitano Tembo, is also a tower of strength in the defence. The South Africa-based central defender has excelled since he was recalled to the Warriors. Zimbabwe`s chances of progressing beyond the group stage would depend on how well the 33-year-old would deal with the threats some of Africa`s dexterous strikers in Cameroon, Egypt and Algeria, the other Group C contenders would pose.
Back in Zimbabwe, reports from the local media say the population is anxiously looking forward to see their team on stage in Tunisia. A high-energy stadium song has specially been composed to spur the Warriors to victory. "Warriors In Control" is written and performed by Anslem Douglas, a Trinidadian living in Canada. Zimbabwe has also had its biggest-ever sponsorship deal in it’s sport history. The deal was sealed between the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and Italian sportswear company L-Sporto. The seven-year deal in which L-Sporto will become the official kit sponsor of all Zimbabwe`s national football teams is worth a total of $4.5 million in cash, kit and equipment.
The Warriors, who have been seriously preparing for the competition, had a setback last week following the cancellation of a friendly match against Zambia that was due to take place yesterday in Harare. ZIFA said it called the game off because they were worried about players getting injured. The Warriors travel to Tunisia today after playing two friendlies (Botswana and El Salvador) in a five-week-long training camp. The daunting campaign in Group C begins with a game against Egypt on 25 January followed by matches with Cameroon and Algeria.
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:cameroon-tribune.cm | |
|
|
|
|
| |